Chapter 78 – Floor 8: Part 4

Mathew leaned back in the chair, letting out a breath of relief from finally being able to relax.

He had been on the Eighth floor for a few days now, a sort of ‘vacation’ since he had discovered who had poisoned the Emperor. It had naturally been his son, some sort of grab for power and a twisted love for his stepmother.

Mathew hadn’t asked too many questions after the Prince started screaming his confession in return for the removal of the knife from his body.

In return, Mathew had completed the Floor and received a nice bonus of Aether. Along with the reward came a month’s stay with the Margrave. It was optional; Mathew could have left at any time by entering the returned elevator, but he needed a break.

The Seventh floor was still haunting him; a month of relaxation would take some of the edge off. It was a blessing, in a way, that the goddess of Truth and Reconciliation had requested him personally.

He hadn’t been offered a choice in the Elevator, unlike what had happened before the Seventh Floor. Either the Tower knew he would not reject the offer because it matched his personality, or he would accept it for its rewards.

Sinking deeper into the cushion of his chair, Mathew closed his eyes and thought about how different things were here. It was peaceful, even with a castle full of nobles terrified of him. It was nothing compared to where he had come from.

“Status.” Mathew muttered, opening his eyes to look at the screen hovering above his wrist.

Name: Mathew Larson

Discipline: None

Champion (Level 15)

Trickster (Level 5)

Coward (Level 5)

Charlatan (Level 5)

Level: 30

Aether Required for Next Level: 435,000

Aether: 565

Attributes

Body: 4.7

Mind: 5.5

Spirit: 1.8

Blessings

Create and Control Flames + (Max Tier)

The Coward’s Brand + (Max Tier)

Catapult + (Max Tier)

Truthsayer + (Unique Ability)

Mystic Bolt + (Max Tier)

Pass Without Trace + (Max Tier)

Blur + (Max Tier)

Halt Movement + (Max Tier)

Items of Importance

Wyvern Scale Jacket (Increased resistance to Piercing/Slashing/Fire)

Scarf of the Wanderer (Protection from hazardous atmospheres.)

Knife of Soaring (Item can be ‘Catapulted’ from the hand as if it were not carried.)

Mace of Subjugation (Bonus to Body, damage can be increased by using mana.)

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He had gained so much from the previous floor but reached a point where the ‘Champion’ Discipline could no longer be raised. Whatever ‘cap’ that had been placed on it in the past had returned, forcing him to select a new one when he was ready.

Mathew let out another sigh of contentment as he felt the warmth from the crackling fire sink into his bones. Maybe it was just psychological; his body stat was high enough that he could endure the coldest winter without too much harm, but he thought the chill from that dead world and its endless biting winds lingered inside him.

He had received something else besides Aether from completing the Seventh Floor. When the ‘Ding’ rang out like sweet music from the heavens, Mathew nearly wept from relief for finally being free of that hell. Even better, he had obtained a bonus.

All of his existing Blessings had been improved beyond their standard capacity. It had cost him a fortune in Aether to purchase; he had obtained the opportunity to increase them, but it hadn’t been for free.

Millions of Aether had been funnelled into his Blessings, but it had been worth it.

Each of the little ‘+’ signs next to them represented a lifting of certain restrictions. Catapult could now affect larger objects and multiple items at once, his control flames were bigger and hotter, the Coward’s Brand was more durable.

The most useful thing for the eighth floor had been Truthsayer’s improvement. He could now ‘compel’ someone to speak the truth, although in some cases, it required a little bit of prodding. The Prince’s confession hadn’t been completely due to the pain.

Mathew groaned as he climbed back onto his feet. Not from pain or physical; the Level-up he had before arriving here had taken care of that. No, this was more from laziness or perhaps an unwillingness to leave the comfort of his chair.

But he still had some things to take care of.

Burning on the walls were rows of letters, corresponding with large paintings the Tower of Avarice had projected for him to decide his next Discipline. Unlike the previous floors, there were only two options to choose from. Mathew had been in this room, staring at them undecidedly, for hours.

Both had their benefits, and they were quite appealing in many ways. But they came with downsides that left Mathew indecisive.

The first painting depicted Mathew standing in front of a large crowd. A fire raged behind him, and he had a row of people in chains kneeling in a row beside him. He seemed to be giving a speech, gesturing to the prisoners as if condemning them for some crime. He was wearing long, black robes, and in his hand was his mace, raised to strike.

It had left Mathew unsettled to see himself depicted like that. So savage yet self-righteous. He had dismissed it outright, until he saw the summary and the benefits it gave. It was hard to argue with power, not after he had experienced the Seventh Floor.

The Old Mathew wouldn’t have thought that way. Then again, the old Mathew wouldn’t have survived what his future self had endured.

Discipline: Righteous Inquisitor

Rarity: Extremely Rare

Attributes per Level: Spirit +++, Mind +

Summary: Your actions have drawn the attention of the god of Righteous Subjugation. They have allowed you to choose this Discipline under their Demesne. You seek the truth, demand it, and burn away the lies that try to obscure it from your vision.

The world is full of evil, and it is your solemn duty to conquer it, to cleanse it in the flames of righteousness. You will take the first step towards becoming an Apostle of a god.

Unique Blessings: Aura of the Righteous

You cloak yourself in a shroud of power, an aura of righteousness that symbolizes your pursuit of the truth. Anything that does not conform to your belief, to your morality, will fall before you.

Your enemy’s attacks will miss, their eyes too blinded by lies to see the truth. Their spells will falter, and their arrows will fall short. They will speak to lie in your presence lest the words burn their tongues.

Details: An aura surrounds you at all times, hindering your opponents while strengthening you and your allies. As you gain levels, the aura will grow in power.

Mathew had been hesitant even before he had seen that the Discipline was the first step toward becoming an Apostle. After that, he knew it wasn’t for him. He had no intention of becoming like Samuel, a pawn for a deity to use as they saw fit.

But the power given by the Aura was tempting. Still, it wasn’t worth the hassle. Casting it from his mind, he had looked toward the next.

The second was of Mathew in a hooded black robe. His face was shadowed, and he was walking toward a terrified crowd with his hand raised as if to grab them. The people were running from him, and a halo of darkness seemed to hang over him.

Discipline: Villain

Rarity: Very Rare

Attributes per Level: Body ++, Mind+, Spirit +

Summary: The ends justify the means. The shortest path to what you desire is always the correct one. These are the beliefs that define you. You have been through hell to achieve your goal, and that experience has left a stain on you that can not be easily cleansed.

Discard morality, embrace self-interest. Be beholden to no man or god.

Unique Blessings: Fear

You become terror itself to those weaker than you. Your visage, voice and very presence inspires fear in all who see your face or hear your words. This Blessing is ineffective against those higher level than you or those who possess the willpower to resist the dread you stir.

Details: All those within sight and sound of you will feel fear and terror as if you are a predator and they are prey.

Mathew had read the summary twice, feeling a weight in his stomach grow as he did so. He didn’t have much choice: either accept a Discipline that put a collar around his neck or one that would change the way he thought and behaved.

Regretting it, he voiced his decision to the Tower.

“I choose ‘Villain.’”